Blades' Attorney: Information Bogus

July 13, 1995|By SERGIO R. BUSTOS Staff Writer

PLANTATION - — Brian Blades' attorney on Wednesday accused police of giving false information to the media during their investigation into last week's shooting death of the pro football player's cousin.

Fort Lauderdale attorney Bruce Zimet singled out Sgt. Michael Price for saying on Monday that one of two bullets found in the second-floor of Brian Blades' condominium wasn't consistent with an accidental shooting.

Price said police did mistakenly describe the path of that bullet. He said it was found on the floor of the room, but didn't discuss why police had earlier reported the bullet was found in a wall.

The other bullet killed Blades' cousin, Charles Blades, 34, of Opa-locka. He was found dead in his cousin's Plantation home shortly after midnight. Brian Blades, the sole eyewitness to the shooting, has said it was accidental but has declined to speak with police.

The police mistake angered Zimet and Blades' agent, Drew Rosenhaus. They both sent a statement Wednesday to local and national media organizations, including the Sun-Sentinel.

"It is difficult to reconcile a police spokesperson's dissemination of false information with an open-minded and fair investigation," Zimet wrote. "It has always been my concern that certain persons have been predisposed no matter what the evidence or statements in the case - including the statement of a client - to attempt to make a case against Brian Blades.

"Certainly, it is difficult to advise a client to trust the open-mindedness of investigators," he wrote.

Zimet, quoting published reports, said Price misled the media. He quoted him as saying the discovery of the second bullet raised "new concerns" about the shooting being an accident and that a "struggle or scuffle or physical confrontation with or around that gun seem very likely now."

Scrutiny of a second bullet may have ended, but Brian Blades has yet to tell police how the bullet that killed his cousin was fired from his.

In explaining how the one bullet landed on the floor, The Seattle Times has reported that an anguished Brian Blades slammed the gun on a desk, causing it to fire. The bullet then ripped through the desk and fell beneath it. The newspaper quoted representatives of Brian Blades.

Said Zimet: "I'm not going to confirm any facts relating to the case."